Week Two: Jack and Her Skills Went Up the Hill

On Capitol Hill

Tuesday 06.03.25 - Thursday 06.05.25

My first day in the Senate was emotional. Taking my first steps into the Senate building symbolized the beginning of my future. It felt unreal, and each step I took felt a bit uncomfortable. As a first-generation farmworker student, I knew I wasn’t statistically supposed to be here. However, that realization motivated me even more to take the next step forward. I began meeting the staff, connecting with the other interns, and getting a sense of the positive work environment. Although my first day was mostly filled with training, I was eager to see what this internship would bring. Later that night, all of the interns from HEP/CAMP and CHCI shared their stories about their first days. It was amazing to witness the start of this new chapter in everyone’s lives.

Although the following day continued with more training, I was still excited because I was invited to attend a Congressional Hispanic Staff Association event. At the event, I listened to the story of Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez from New Mexico and connected with other Hispanic staff on the Hill. It was inspiring to see Hispanic representation in Congress!

On Thursday, I walked into work excited to tackle my tasks. One of the biggest pieces of advice I received about working on Capitol Hill is that “this experience is what you make of it.” This means if you seek a bigger project, you have to ask for it. If you want to sit in on hearings or briefings, you need to take that initiative. If you want to build a strong network, you have to cultivate those meaningful relationships. With this in mind, I was able to attend hearings, have coffee chats, and connect with my colleagues throughout the day. I started to understand what it meant to be on the Hill.

Later that evening, I received a lovely visit from my local MSS Senior Director, Luis, and another MSS Director, Amas, from Oregon. Luis and Amas took a few HEP/CAMP interns and me out to dinner, where we had an amazing meal! It was wonderful to reconnect with Luis and meet Amas to hear more about their incredible journeys.

Out and About

Friday 06.06.25 - Saturday 06.07.25

After work on Friday, a few of the HEP/CAMP interns and I went grocery shopping. We traveled all the way to Columbia Heights and discovered several Mexican stores. Although it might not sound exciting, to us interns, walking into those stores felt familiar, as if we were back home. Later, the rest of the HEP/CAMP interns gathered for a movie night to relax. It was wonderful to come together as our own little family and share the evening.

The next day, we visited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where we learned about the events leading up to the Holocaust, World War II, the experiences of victims, and stories of survivors. Everyone left the museum with a heavy heart, fully aware that this painful chapter is a part of a collective history. Later that night, a few of us HEP/CAMP interns went to the movies (we can never watch enough films!). This week has truly been a wonderful introduction to what lies ahead, and I feel beyond grateful to be experiencing it all.